PEOPLE living near a Hampshire hospital are being invited to attend an open day to discuss the future of the site.

The West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) says it wants to transform the ageing Ashurst Hospital by offering a range of new services for children and young people.

During a recent consultation exercise locals said the hospital should provide asthma clinics, hearing and sight tests, and mental health counselling.

But NHS bosses are anxious to hear from parents and carers about any other services they want to see on the site.

Announcing the open day Heather Hauschild, the CCG’s chief officer, said: “It’s a great opportunity for us to listen to local people and share what we’ve already heard.

“Our long-term aim is to provide a range of high quality services for children, young people and families.”

Children’s services such as speech and language therapy, occupational health and podiatry used to be based at Ashurst but moved out after some of the buildings became unsuitable.

The complex is now home to only a small number of facilities including the New Forest Birth Centre.

Last year plans to upgrade the site were unveiled CCG bosses, who said the hospital, a former workhouse, needed a new lease of life.

It added: “There’s an exciting opportunity to redevelop facilities to make it modern, welcoming and fit for purpose.

“Working with our local healthcare partners, West Hampshire CCG has started to build a vision. We want to create a child and family-friendly health centre that focuses on providing a range of services for children, young people and families.”

The open day will take place on Saturday, February 3 between 10am and 2pm. Health professionals and NHS managers will be on hand to answer questions.

The hospital was originally a New Forest Union workhouse that was built in 1836 at a cost of £5,000, with space for 200 people.

Following the creation of the National Health Service in 1948 it was used to provide care for elderly people.